Courtney touched his sleeve.

“She’s been to the land office, Charles.

Look at her fingers.”

My fingertips were gray from the carbon copies Edith Mallow had pulled for me.

I left them where they were.

“Not out here,” my father said, and started down the corridor with the good carpet.

I followed, because the other choice was standing in his lobby wearing a badge.

“Lucas left four carrier accounts open,” he said as he walked.